Distributing mechanism of typographical composing and casting machines.



0. MUEHLEISEN.

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1914.

1,1 39,794, Patented May 18, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOJJTHCL, WASHINGTONv D. c

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CARL MUEHLEISEN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIG-NOB TO MEBGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM orTYroeaArrIIcAL com osrne AND casrruc MACHINES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 23, 1914. Serial No. 852,542.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL MU'EHLEISEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 23 Chausseestrasse, Berlin, N. l, in the Empire of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Distributing. Mechanism of Typographical Composing and Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the distributing mechanism of typographical composing and casting machines,=such, for example, as those known commercially under the trade mark linotype, employing matrices which are storedin a magazine, released from that magazine and assembled in order ofeomposition, presented in that order to a castingmold and, after the casting operation, conveyed to a distributing mechanism by means of which they are restored each to its respective channel of the magazine. Such matrices, as is well known, are provided with distributing teeth of approximately uniform thickness, irrespective of the set-wise dimensions or body thickness of the matrices themselves, and they are also provided at the top and bottom of each vertical edge, with projecting lugs, Which, in many cases are of a thickness considerably less than the set-wise dimension of the matrices. Further, the distributing teeth and the lugs are respectively situatedat 0pposite sides of the above-named, vertical edges. 7

During part of the distributing operation, just before the distributing teeth on the matrices engage with the ribs on the distributer rail, the matrices travel f along a pair of guide rails, on which they are suspended by their upper lugs, and, when so suspended, those matrices which have a setwise dimension appreciably greater than the thickness of the lugs, have a tendency to swing into an oblique position, owing to the center of. gravity not being in the same plane as the supporting lugs. It is essential, however, for enabling the distributing teeth of the matrices to engage with the ribs of the distributor rail, that they should be maintained in a vertical or substantially vertical position during the'time'that they are suspended on the guide rails, and the Referring object of the present invention is to provide Patented MayilS, 1315.

means for effecting such maintenance of verticality.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings throughout the several figures of which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or corresponding parts, and in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of part of a.

distributing mechanism, illustrating one constructional form of the invention; Fig. 2 1s a front elevation of part of a distributing mechanism, illustrating another constructional form, and Figs! 3, 4, '5, 6, 7 and '8 are side elevations showing respectively different methods of supporting the matrices.

Throughout this specification and in the drawings, the invention is described and illustrated as applied to a distributing mechanism providedwith a device already known in the art, as a separator box. In this 1 separator box 1 (see Fig. 2), the matrices whichhave previously entered at the top, as shown by the one marked 2 in that figure, form into an inclined row, the successively leading matrices of which are separated from the following ones by the finger 3, which is reciprocated in alternation with the companion finger 4, which serves to hold the advancing row in check at the time that it is not so held by the finger 3, these fingers 3 and 4; being oscillated in well known man- ,ner by the-rocking levers 6 and 7 respectively.

now to Figs. 1, 8'and8 are twoguide rails, one (8) being situated behind and the other (8) in. front of the known distributer rail 12. 10 is a thick matrix which has been delivered on to the guide railsS, 8, from the separator box, and which is suspended from those guide rails by its upper lugs 11., While the matrix 10 is thus suspended from the guide rails 8, 8', it is moved toward the distributor rail 12 by the engagement of its two upper lugs 11'andone of its lower lugs 13 with the i upper lugs 11 that the mischievous swing- V 8, 8 terminate at a point just beyond that at which the last mentioned engagement has been efi ected, beyond which point the mat rices, of course, no longer rely for support upon their upper lugs, which thereafter are only engaged with the twoupper distributor screws. As previously stated, it is during the just-described part of the distributing operation, at which a thick matrix 10 is suspended on the, guide rails 8, 8 by its 'ing of that matrix takes place. According to the modification represented in Fig.

' .1, this swinging is prevented by thickening thethreadof the lower distributerscrew 14L on the following sideof that thread, as indicated at 16, ,over that'portion. of the screw *which engages a lower matrix lug 13, during "lug without admitting of any appreciable the time at which the upper lugs 11 are traveling along the guide rails, 8, 8 so that.

at that partth'e' groove of; the screw is only ofsuflicient width to receive the said lower movement thereof, between the two adjacent conv'olutions of the thread. The matrix 10 is thus kept in a Vertical position until its distribi'iting'teeth 15 engage'with the. ribs of the distributor rail 12, the thickened posed for. a different purpose), and conse- 'quently" the synchronous working of the thread continuing along the screw 14 only so far as is necessary to insure such ;en-

gag'ein'ent being efiected, the thread beyond that point being of the usual known'form. It is'obvious -that this thickening of the thread does not affect the pitch of the screw (analteration which has already been prothree distributor screws is not thereby disturb'ed.- I r the invention"illustratedin Fig. 2, an additional'support for thematrices is provided in the form of a rail 17, in such a position that the traveling matrices 10 will contact foot of the matrix, either under the lug which is'notin engagement with the lower dlstr'ibuter screw, or symmetrically beneath the foot, as shown in Fig. 4; or it may en-V gage a notch in the matrix, situated in any convenient position; for example, in the foot as shown in Fig. 5, above one of the lower lugs asfshown in Fig: 6, or in one? of the edges of the matrix either closely under one of the upper lugs as shown'in Fig. 7, or in a lower position as shown in Fig. 8.

Having described my invention, I declare According to the constructionaljform of that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. In the distributing mechanism of a typographical composing and castingmachine, the combination with a pair'of guide rails adapted to support matrices by engaging under their upper lugs, matrices which,

when so supported, unless prevented from so doing, would hang in an oblique position, a distributer rail adapted to receive matrices from the guide rails and suspend them by, their distributing teeth, and means adapted to propel matrices along the said guide rails and distributer'rail, of a means adapted'to keep the matrices in a substantially vertical position during the time at which they are suspended from the guide rails.

2. In, the distributing mechanism of a. typographical composing and casting chine, the. combination with a pair of. guide rails adapted to support matrices by engagdistributing teethon the matrices, a distributer rail having ribs for" the engageing under their upper lugs, matrices which, V whenso supported, unless prevented from so doing, would hang 1n an obliquepos tlon,

ment therewith Of thB distributing teeth of the matrices and. di'stributer screwsadapted -to propel matrices alongthe guide rails and .distributer rail, ofmeans to engage the matrices and keep'them in, a substantially vertical position during the time at whichth'ey 1 are suspended from theguide rails. 3. In the'distributing mechanism of a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with a pair'of guide rails adapted tosupport matrices "by" en--" gaging under their upper lugs, matrices which, when so supported, unless prevented from so doing, would hang in an oblique position,v distributing teeth on the matrices,

a distributerrail having ribs. for the engagernent therewith "of the distributing teeth of the matrices, a distributer screw adapted,

by engagement with their upper lugs,'to

propel matrices along the guide rails and V 1 istributer rail," of a 'distr ibute'r screw adapted to engage one ofthe lower lugs of each such matrix, said screw having its vthread thickened at the part which engages V f such lower lugduring the time at which.

the upper lugs are traveling over the guide rails. Y 1 I .42. In the distributing mechanism of a typographical composing and casting I ma chine, the combination with-matrices adapted to be propelled through the distributing mechanism, ofa distributor screw adapted 'to'so propel thematrices, having part of its threadat its receiving end of on'ethickness thickness.

and the remaining part of its thread of less 5. In the distributing 'mechanism of a V typographical composing and casting ma'- chine, the combination with matrices adapted to be propelled through the distributing mechanism, of a distributer screw adapted to so propel the matrices, having part of its groove at its receiving end of one width and the remaining part of its groove of a greater width.

6. In a typographical machine comprising matrices, each formed at its upper end with lugs projecting from its opposite edges and located to one side of its center of gravity, the combination or" a pair of guide rails along which the matricesare carried and upon which they are suspended at their opposite edges by their projecting lugs, and means to engage the matrices throughout their travel along the rails and hold their tree or lower ends against swinging or tilting.

7. In a typographical machine comprising matrices formed at their upper ends with projecting lugs located to one side of their center of gravity, the combination of ported and maintain them in a vertical position.

8. Distributing mechanism for typographical machines comprising a distributer bar along which the matrices travel, anda conveying screw having a spiral groove wherein the projecting lugs of the matrices engage, the said groove being of such width as to embrace closely the projecting lugs of the type or matrices; whereby the latter are prevented from swinging or tilting in their travel. r

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL MUEHLEISEN.

Witnesses HENRY HARPER, WALDEMAR IIAUPT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

